How do you engage government officials on toilets?

By Phlush | May 11, 2017

Access to water and sanitation are human rights!  But saying this is not enough to get a commitment from governments. We need to engage and persuade public officials who are likely to have limited funding and competing priorities. We need to understand their priorities and motivations if we are to influence governments at the local,…

Reflections from the PHLUSH Board President

By Hayley Joyell Smith | April 8, 2017

The other day in a rest stop there was a classic motivational poster with the word S.E.R.V.I.C.E. No doubt this was aimed to demonstrate their commitment to keeping things tidy, but for me it resonated with my current service on the PHLUSH Board of Directors. The affirmation-like description below the bolded lettering was poignant. “Extraordinary…

PHLUSH looks towards the future as nationally recognized nonprofit

By Hayley Joyell Smith | March 4, 2017

It’s official. PHLUSH has earned recognition as a nonprofit by the IRS. We are thrilled to announce that our growing organization is moving forward as a 501(c)3. PHLUSH started out as a small community group responding to a lack of toilets in downtown Portland. We drafted design principles that influenced the construction of the Portland…

Popular Posts

Bringing Bathroom App to Portland: A Partnership with PHLUSH

By Phlush | March 28, 2025

Bringing Bathroom App to Portland: A Partnership with PHLUSH By: Gurbaz Dhillon, Co-creator of Bathroom App   In just a few weeks, Bathroom App will be live in Portland!  As a new player in this space, we wanted to share a bit about who we are, why we care about toilets, and how we’re thinking…

Designing for a Shared Reality: What is a Multispecies Approach to Sanitation? 

By Phlush | March 12, 2025

Designing for a Shared Reality: What is a Multispecies Approach to Sanitation?  By: Kory Russel   At a Venetian Palace overlooking the grand canal, an unexpected exhibit highlighted a universal truth—every living being, from emperors to insects, must excrete waste. This display, “Designing for the Intimate Shared Reality of All Species” exhibition, part of the…

Why You Should Consider Making Your Restroom More Inclusive (And How To Do It)

By Phlush | January 18, 2025

Why You Should Consider Making Your Restroom More Inclusive (And How To Do It) By Kip Earlywine (Used with permission from Green Flush Restrooms) It’s a beautiful day outside, so Dave decides to visit a new city park he hasn’t visited before.  Upon arrival, he’s struck by the care and detail given to the park; everything…

The Importance of Inclusive Restroom Signage

By Phlush | August 24, 2023

Professional photographer Mark Chester did not intentionally find the issue of inclusivity in restroom access – the issue found him. Chester began photographing restroom signs 12 years ago. In conducting this work, Chester began pondering the relationship between signage and inclusivity. What he found is that the barriers to equitable restroom access for people across…

Tips for Creating a Successful Family Emergency Plan

By Phlush | June 26, 2023

  The scariest thing about natural disasters is that they can happen out of nowhere so you need to be prepared. Does your family know what to do if a tornado, hurricane, or wildfire erupts around your home? In addition to creating an emergency response kit, an emergency plan is crucial to ensure your family…

There’s plenty of toilet paper in the US – so why are people hoarding it?

By Phlush | March 20, 2020

Almost 150 U.S. companies make toilet paper. Studio Dagdagaz/Shutterstock.com Jay L. Zagorsky, Boston University The other day I went into Costco to buy some toilet paper. It came as a small shock when I couldn’t find a single roll. The new coronavirus is inspiring panic buying of a variety of household products such as toilet paper in cities across…

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